To request accessibility accommodations at SVA, students must register with Disability Resources by clicking the “Request Accommodations” button below.

As part of the accommodation request process, most students will need to provide documentation or a letter from a licensed medical, mental health, or treatment provider who is familiar with the student and qualified to assess how the student's disability affects their ability to access all of the educational and student life resources, supports, services, and related communication at SVA.

For students with learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, or related conditions, an IEP or 504 Plan from high school is helpful to document the history of accommodations and the need for support. Additionally, these students should submit their most recent Cognitive Assessment, Psychoeducational Evaluation, Neuropsychological Assessment, or similar evaluations to support their accommodation request.

Students requesting accessibility accommodations should review the document titled SVA Disability Resources - Requesting Accommodations and Supporting Documentation available in the “Resources” section at the bottom of this page. An intake meeting with a Disability Resources staff member is required to finalize the determination process.

Disability Resources is here to support students throughout the accommodation request process and during their time at SVA! Students should email Disability Resources if they have questions, concerns, accessibility barriers, or any other challenges with the accommodation request process or obtaining appropriate supporting documentation.

Students are encouraged to submit their accommodation request and documentation as well as attend an intake session prior to arriving on campus for the start of the term. Intakes are typically conducted via Zoom unless a student requests an in-person intake. During the academic year, it may take 3–4 weeks for the accommodation approval process to be completed. Accommodations are not retroactive and only go into effect when faculty or staff receive official notice of the required accommodations from Disability Resources.

Students who are requesting residential accommodations must submit an accommodation request and appropriate supporting documentation as well as complete the intake and approval process prior to June 1 for the Fall term, prior to November 30 for the Spring term, and prior to May 1 for the Summer term. Students previously approved for residential accommodations at SVA must submit renewal for these accommodations prior to the dates listed above. While Disability Resources processes requests on a case by case basis after these dates, it may be impossible to implement residential accommodations after housing assignments have been made.

Returning students previously approved for residential accommodations, must request residential accommodations and submit required documentation prior to June 1 for the Fall term, prior to November 30 for the Spring term, and prior to May 1 for the Summer term. While Disability Resources processes requests on a case by case basis after these dates, it may be impossible to implement residential accommodations after housing assignments have been made.

Students must contact Disability Resources and renew their accommodations every semester they wish to receive accommodations. Students will not need to attend another intake appointment. Students can renew their accommodations by submitting a semester request via the MyAccommodate app in the MyID dashboard following these steps:

1. Log in to MyID
2. Select the Symplicity MyAccommodate* app from the menu
3. Select Accommodations from the left-hand sidebar.
4. Select “Semester Request” from under the Accommodation expansion. 
5. Select “Add New” 
6. Select the Semester of Choice from the dropdown menu.
7. Select Renew All Accommodations. 

Students must obtain updated accommodation letters each semester by submitting a Semester Request via MyAccommodate. Accommodation letters will be emailed to instructors by Disability Resources after the semester renewal request is made. Students will receive an email verifying the letters have been emailed to their instructors and must follow up with their instructors to confirm receipt. SVA faculty are not required to provide a student with accommodations unless they are emailed an accommodation letter by Disability Resources. Accommodations are not retroactive.

If you would like to make changes to your accommodations or want to speak with Disability Resources staff, please email disabilityresources@sva.edu to schedule an appointment. 

For information on returning students’ Residential Accommodations, please see the section of the same name above.

*This app will be visible only to matriculated students and faculty.

Disability Resources provides the following services and resources:

• Accommodation determination decisions
• Arrangement of accommodations
• Weekly or bi-weekly individual counseling/coaching on issues pertaining to: adjusting to college life, academics, adjusting to a disability, stress management, time-management, anxiety management, study skills, communication skills, self-advocacy skills and socialization skills. (Coaching is subject to staff availability.)
• Exam proctoring/distraction reduced testing environment
• Arrangement of ASL interpreting or CART services
• Captioning services
• Consultation with faculty/staff

Please note: personal services such as content-specific tutoring, personal aides, or assistance in bathing, grooming, food preparation, housekeeping and assistance ambulating are not deemed reasonable accommodations. Additionally, individually prescribed devices, such as hearing aids, glasses, braces, wheelchairs or other mobility devices are to be purchased by the student.

Disability Resources does not provide academic tutoring. Students who need assistance with writing skills should contact SVA’s Writing Resource Center.

School of Visual Arts

Office of Disability Services

209 East 23rd Street

New York, NY 10010